TEHRAN -- Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new building of the Judiciary Research and Training Center, which was held during Judiciary Week, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi said that accusations that the judicial system is being manipulated politically are unjust and unfair. He added, "If a verdict is issued against a certain party or group, they say the judge is politically biased or accuse the judicial system of political maneuvering. But they should be asked, 'Aren't you political and following a political agenda?'" Ayatollah Shahroudi said that most of the people criticizing the judicial system have legal problems themselves and are trying to lay the blame for their problems on the judicial system.

Meanwhile, in a separate message the Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi offered his condolences to the survivors of the earthquake in Qazvin and Hamadan provinces which killed and injured many people. He expressed his sympathy and said he hoped that officials and citizens would do everything in their power to help the survivors.